Electric heater



April 26, 1927.

. 1,625,989 A. M. DUFFIE ELECTRIC HEATER Filed necyze, 1925 4 Sheets-Shet 1 April 26 ,4 1927. 1,625,989

A. M. DUI-FIE ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Dec. 26. 1923 4' Sheets-Sheet Z April 26, 1927.

A. M. DUFFIE ELECTRIC HEATER 1 File& Dec. 26. 1923 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Pi; W 76.

Aprll 26, 1927. E A M. DUFFIE ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Dec. 26, 1923 @Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 25, 1927.

warren stares essee PATENT @FFIQE.

ALLEN M; DUFFIE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed. December 26, 1923.

This invention relates toimprovements in electric heaters of the type which embodies a radiator operating with hot water or steam.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an electric heater of the type indicated which shall be readily portable, in which provision is made for ready access to the heating element which is sim ple and economical in its structural assembly, which will not be liable to derangement, and which will be economical in operation.

The invention consists generally in the novel organization of the heating element with reference to the lower head 9 of the radiator and in novel details of structure and arrangement appertaining tothe heating element and its associated parts, all of which novel features have in view the advantages above generally set forth.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein forms applicable to hot water and steam, respectively, are disclosed.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a heater having a hot water radiator. v

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 38 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a plan view of the heating element as removed from the radiator.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is. a detail longitudinal sectional 'view of the lower portion of the radiator at one end thereof.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a heater having a'steam radiator. v

Figure .9 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a plan View of the heating element employed with the radiator of Figure 8.

Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views or the lines 1212 and 1'313, respectively, of Figure 8.

Figure 14 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the.

radiator ofFigure 8 at one end thereof.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7: The radiator may be of any suitable for and arrangement but preferably comprises 7 wall.

Serial No. 682,796.

an upper head 1, a lower head 2 and circulating tubes extending between the heads. The circulating tubes are preferably arranged in three series, a middle series 3 through which the water flows upward and two outer series l through which the water flows downward. All of the tubes may be of the same diameter but the tubes of the middle series which carry as much water as the tubes of both of the outer series are provided in suitably greater number than the tubes of either of the outer series. The upper head 1 is provided at one end with a suitlower wall of the head 2, the water in the reduced central longitudinal part of said head is heated more quickly than the water in the parts below the tubes 4; and in this way the water is caused to have a relatively rapid upward circulation through the tubes 3.

The chamber 8 is provided by a casing 9 having side walls, a bottom and a rear end The casing 9 is suitably supporteii! in relation to the head 2 whereby the lower wall of said head serves as the upper wall of the chamber 8. The side walls of the casing 9 are preferably extended upward to lie at the sides of the head 2 and along their upper edges are secured to said head by welding.

The means of support for the heating element 7 is preferably organized whereby it may be fitted in the casing 9 or removed therefrom in the manner of a drawer. The heating element preferably consists of coiled resistance wire bent into parallel convolutions and is supported by a suitable number of rigid transverse plates 10 of any suitable compressed composition insulating material, said plates having openings through which the parallel convolutions 0f the heating element are passed and serving to space said convolutions from one another and from adjacent metal parts. The plates 10 are mounted upon a connecting rod 11 and are spaced from one another by sleeves 12 fitted upon said rod, the assembly of said plates and sleeves being maintained by nuts 13 fitted upon the ends of the rod 11. A plate 10 of similar insulating material is arranged $.O111Q\Vl121t in advance of the foremost plate 10 and serves as the front wall of the chamber 8. The plate 1O is included in the unit composed oi the heating element and its means of support and is preferably connected to the adjacent plate 10 by bolt 't'astenings ll. A switch 15 for the control 01 the heating element lr'i preferably mounted at the front side of the plate l and is connected to the lead wires arranged in the usual manner in a cord 16, carrying a suitable plug (not shown) for engagement in a wall socket or equivalent part. The bolts of the 'iastenings ll are used for the electrical connection of the terminals of the heating element and the tern'iinals oi the switch 15. The heating element T is arranged above a reflector which preferably is combined with the removable unit compo;.ed of the heating element and its supporting parts. As shown the reflector consists ot a member 1'? of channel cross section which has a close sliding lit in the casing 9 and within which the plates and ll)" are arranged, the member 1'? being socured to said plates in any suitable manner and having its sur't'aces adjacent the heating element highly polished. The bottom and side walls of the casing 9 are preferably lined with suitable heat insulating material 18 and the end wall of said casing is lined with a heat insulating plate 19.

It will be observed that the heating element is mounted externally of the radiator and that dir ct and reflected heat acts on the lower radiator head which provides a wall of the chamber in which the heating element is arranged. The radiator part of the heater is thus structurally independent of the heating element and its associated parts. The heating element and its means of support are assembled to constitute a sell contained unit which can be instantly detached or removed from the radiator for the purpotie of giving access to any of its parts and which can be as quickly replaced. In the construction shown, using the knob of the switch as a drawer pull, the reflector 17 fits in the manner of a drawer in the casing 9 and as removed or inserted carries with it the heating element and its supporting parts.

Referring to Figures 8 to 1 1:

The radiator is similar structurally to the form above described and consists of the upper head 1, the lower head 2 and the tubes 3 and 4:. The lower head supports a casing 9 which provides a chamber 8 below said head in which the heating element 7 is arranged, the bottom wall of the head 2 providing the top wall of the cham her 8 The heating element is wound spirally upon a core-like support which includes a pair oi parallel rods and wrappings 21 of insulating material encircling said rods. The rods 20 are supported by transverse plates 22 of rigid insulating material, said plates having openings through which the rod: extend and serving to separate the rods from one another. Spacing sleeves 23, preferably of insulating material, are provided on the rods 20 between the plates The assembly of the heating element, rods 20, sleeves 2 and plates 22 is maintained by nuts 2st fitted on the ends of said rod. The plates 22 are mounted upon parallel supporting strips 25. A plate 26 of similar insulating material is mounted in front of the 't'oremost plate 22 and upon the strips 25. The plate 26 carries the switch 15, one terminal of which is connected to an end 01 the ole mcnt 7 and the other terminal of which is connected to one of the rods 20 which is used as a return path. The supporting strips have slidable engagement upon the bottom of the casing 9 whereby the unit composed of the heating element and its supporting parts can be removed from or insertedinto said casing in the manner of a drawer and inthe same way and for the same purposes as in the construction first described.

The head 2 is filled with water up to a determined level, the water being poured in through the nipple 6 and being converted into steam as the operation proceeds.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric heater, the combination with a radiator having fluid circulating tubes and a lower head of a casing arranged below said head and providing a chamber, the upper wall of which is provided by the lower wall of said head, a heating element in said chamber, and means of support for said heating element including transversely arranged plates of insulating material and means to provide for the unitary assembly of said plates and element whereby said element and its supporting means may be removed and replaced as a unit with reference to said head.

2. In an electric. heater, the combination with a. radiator having fluid circulating tubes and a lower head of a casing arranged below said head and providing a chamber, the upper all of which is provided by the lower wall of said head, a heating element in said chamber, means of support for said heating element including transversely arranged plates o't' insulating material and means to provide for the unitary assembly of Said plates and element, and means con nected to said plates and having a close sliding fit in said casing whereby said e1ement and its supporting means may be fitted in or removed from said casing as a unit and in the manner of a drawer.

3. In an electric heater, the combination with a radiator having fluid circulating tubes and a head of a casing arranged adjacent said head and providing a chamber, one wall of which is provided by a Wall of said head, the walls of said chamber, except for the wall provided by said head being lined with heat insulating material, a heating element in said chamber, and means of support for said heating element, the latter and its supporting means being removable and replaceable as a unit with reference. to said head.

I. In an electric heater, the combinatlon with a radiator having fluid circulatmg tubes and a lower head of a casing arranged below said head and providing a chamber, the upper wall of which is provided by the lower wall of said head, a heatlng element in said chamber, means ofsupport for said heating element, and a reflector for said heating element and connected to its supporting means, the reflector having a drawer-like sliding fit in said casing and being available to efi'ect the removal or replacement in unitary fashion of said heating element and its supporting means.

5. In an electric heat-er, the combination with a radiator having a middle series of fluid circulating tubes, two outer series of fluid circulating tubes, an upper head and a lower head of a casing arranged below said lower head and providing a chamber, the lower wall of said lower head serving as the upper wall of said chamber and being arched whereby said lower head has less depth below the tubes of the middle series than elsewhere and a heating element fitted in said chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALLEN M. DUFFIE. 

